Saints need a strong draft year to help beat the odds

Let’s hope they are wrong. In this case, they are the Vegas oddsmakers, who make a living being right.

The Saints win total at 7.5 for the 2024 season. You can bet the over or the under.

Either way you slice it, not much is expected from your New Orleans Saints.

Only five teams in the NFC, Arizona, Carolina, Minnesota, the New York Giants, and Washington have lower win totals than the Saints. At least three of those five could pick a quarterback in the first round of the NFL Draft.

The Saints have a lot of needs, starting with two offensive tackles. Andrus Peat is a free agent while right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, who suffers from a chronically bad knee, is a huge question mark. You can make a strong argument that New Orleans’ first two picks in the draft should be offensive lineman.

The Saints also need playmakers on offense and along their defensive line.

The powers that be decided that defensive end Chase Young was worth the risk on a free agent deal, even though he had a surgical procedure on his neck. It likely lessens the need for edge pass rush.

What the Saints need is last year’s draft class to make a quantum leap. Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, safety Jordan Howden and wide receiver A.T. Perry all showed promise in 2023. Can they make a huge step forward? Will more of a contribution be in the cards from their 2023 second round pick, defensive end Isaiah Foskey, and fourth round choice, offensive lineman Nick Saldeveri?

If the Saints don’t win this season, quarterback Derek Carr and head coach Dennis Allen will bear the brunt of the criticism, but there chances are there will be plenty of blame to go around.

Since 2017, the Saints have not drafted well. The haul that yielded Ramczyk, Marshon Lattimore and running back Alvin Kamara turned the fortunes of the franchise. After three straight losing seasons, the Saints rattled off four consecutive NFC South titles. However, that was so long ago.

In their last six drafts, can you name the real difference makers the Saints have taken?

Since Drew Brees retired, the Saints are 25-26 with no playoff appearances. They’ve tried to rebuild on the fly, and continue to win but it continue to be a very tough needle to thread.

So, as they head to California for camp this summer, not much will be expected. That scenario hasn’t happened to this franchise for the most of the past 20 years.

Here’s a barometer for you. The Chicago Bears, a chronically hapless franchise, have a higher wagering win total (8.5) than the Saints this season. That is troubling.

The club cannot afford to get the 2024 draft wrong.